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1
Slice the unpeeled eggplant very thin into slices not more than 1/8 inch in thickness and nearly transparent, piling them into a large bowl of cold, sea-salted water.
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2
Permit the eggplant slices to rest in their bath for 1 hour.
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3
In a small, heavy saucepan over a low flame, stir the chocolate with the cocoa, the cloves, the pepper, and the wine, only until the chocolate has softened and warmed.
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4
Continue to stir off the flame until the mixture is smooth.
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5
Cover the pan and set it aside.
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6
Hand-chop or pulse the pan-roasted pistachios and almonds in a food processor to a fairly small mince.
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7
Set the nuts aside.
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8
Drain the eggplant, squeezing the slices a few at a time.
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9
Shake the squeezed, now wrinkled-beyond-repair, slices in a paper bag with a bit of flour, coating them lightly.
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10
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
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11
In a large saute pan over a lively flame, warm the olive oil and begin quickly sauteing the eggplant, crisping it a bit, then removing it to rest on absorbent paper towels.
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12
Repeat the process until all the eggplant slices are golden and crisped.
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13
Very lightly oil a 10-inch springform pan and place a generous layer of the eggplant on its base.
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14
Drizzle the eggplant with a bit of the slightly rewarmed chocolate, sprinkle over some of the pistachio/almond mixture, and repeat the process until all the components are in place, ending with a thin layer of eggplant.
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15
Beat the egg, the egg white, and the sugar together to a froth in a pitcher or a measuring cup with a spout, drizzling it carefully over and down into the cracks and crevices between the layers of the eggplant.
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16
Bake the torta for 18 minutes, removing it from the oven to cool for 1/2 hour before unmolding.
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17
Just before presentation, dust the torta with confectioners sugar.
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18
It is lovely to eat at room temperature, even better thoroughly cooled.
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19
Do not, however, refrigerate it.
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20
Obviously, one would wish to keep the tortas principal component a secret, waiting to see who among them will recognize it in its sweet masquerade.
